Holiday Villa Rentals in Valbonne area

Valbonne

Valbonne is a charming and picturesque village near Nice in the Alpes-Maritimes department of southeastern France and is just 25km from Nice airport. From your holiday rental here in Valbonne you have a perfect base for easy reach of the beach resorts along the Cote d’Azur including Nice, Cannes and Antibes. Fragrant Grasse and many pretty medieval hilltop villages are also easily accessible. A little further afield, but a picturesque drive down along the beautiful coast is Villefranche, Monte Carlo, Menton and the Italian border and all worthy of even a short visit. The area is the ideal base whether you are passionate about sea, sun or ski slopes, or relaxing while exploring the beautiful Provencal countryside, culture and exquisite cuisine.

There is a large selection of holiday homes in and around Valbonne. So whether you are looking for a gite, villa rental, vacation apartment or any other type of self catering holiday accommodation directly from the owner, you will be spoilt for choice. As part of your overall effort to reduce your carbon footprint consider renting an eco friendly holiday rental, which have varying degrees to green facilities, from a well organised recycling system to water harvesting and solar panels.

Valbonne’s old town, originally a Roman settlement, is set out on a rectangular grid around the main square and was founded as part of an abbey and church. At the bottom of the town you can see the original abbey church. The central square is a vibrant place where tourists and locals alike tend to congregate and socialise. It is a great place to sit, have a drink and watch the world go by.
With colourful facades and a great atmosphere, the medieval sector of the village has some excellent restaurants and relaxing pavement cafes for you to enjoy during a wander round the village and there are plenty of boutiques and shops selling all manner of goods, particularly all things Provencal.

The weekly market is an ideal place to purchase local cheeses, wines and other produce of the region. An antique/bric-a-brac market takes place every month. The wine caves around the area are also worth a visit.

Biot Glass works are an easy drive and you can purchase some delightful pieces to take back as souvenirs. If you visit Biot near Christmas you can enjoy some beautiful illuminations and Christmas markets.

Activities

Golf lovers will not have to travel far from their holiday rental villa to enjoy their favourite sport. The golf courses of Opio/Valbonne and Golf de Grande Bastide near Grasse are a short drive away and there are many other excellent courses within easy reach such as, Cannes Mougins Golf Club, Golf de saint Donnat and Victoria Golf Club. All the courses are set in beautiful surroundings and with every facility, which caters not only for the players, but for the non golfers in your group. Some of the courses have swimming pools and tennis courts and all have excellent restaurants.

With such a wonderful climate in this region, there is a never ending choice of outdoor activities around this area and its neighbouring resorts. Marineland and Aquasplash are easily accessible and make a great day out for all the family. If you are renting a holiday letting during the winter, the ski resorts of Isola 2000/Auron/Valberg are within 1hr. 30min and the ski stations of Italy are also within driving distance.

There are many other activities to be enjoyed such as, a multitude of watersports, cycling, sailing, walking, riding, hiking in the beautiful Park de Departmental de la Brague, tennis, mountain biking. Indoor activities include cinema, museums and art galleries, potteries, wine cellars and a wonderful choice of shops and designer boutiques around the cities of Nice, Cannes and chic Monte Carlo. For those who want to venture a little further and enjoy the beautiful coast without driving, there are boat trips from coastal resorts which take you on day trips to any number of interesting places, even down to St. Tropez.

Festivals and Carnivals

There are numerous music, art and gastronomic festivals, colourful carnivals and theatrical events around this area and along the coastal resorts of Nice, Cannes, Antibes and Monte Carlo throughout the year. The Cannes Film Festival is the most well known and the Antibes Jazz fest attracts people from all over. There is world class opera, military, rock and chamber music events in Cannes, Nice and Monte Carlo, so no matter which month you decide to visit, you will come across an exciting celebration.

Cuisine

The Mediterranean and Provencal influence is in the cuisine of this area, with fresh fish and seafood sitting comfortably beside recipes using hot spices and peppers. Olive oil, olives, garlic, fragrant herbs and a variety of cheeses and other local produce contribute greatly towards the many delicious and mouth watering dishes from around the region. Beef, lamb, chicken and duckling are also well represented on the restaurant menus and are served in a wide variety of ways, accompanied by deliciously fresh local vegetables and served with delectable sauces.

Dishes from other regions of France are also available in the best restaurants, but it is Provencal dining that is the most popular in the area. Like most areas in the region, there is no shortage of exquisite confectionary, both savoury and sweet along with light and fruity deserts to tempt the palate. The excellent wines of the region are the perfect compliment to the Provencal cuisine.

The high quality food markets and supermarkets are easily accessible from your holiday home and provide a brilliant choice of fresh local produce, so that when you wish to dine in the tranquillity and comfort of your villa, shopping just couldn’t be easier. From your garden terrace you can enjoy a family barbeque, enjoy a glass or two of wine and watch the sun go down, leaving you to enjoy a balmy Mediterranean evening surrounded by your family or friends. In this beautiful area, you just know that tomorrow is going to be equally as good as today.